CHERRY HILL, N.J. – The Owls crew grabbed a silver medal at the Knecht Cup Regatta earlier Sunday afternoon, continuing their impressive start to the spring season. Both of Bryn Mawr's Varsity 8+ boats were in action in the Grand Final of the Women's Varsity Eight – DIII event, with the Owls' 1V8 coming home in second place to earn the silver.

Going up against some of their familiar opponents in Catholic and Stockton, two teams who Bryn Mawr just saw at last weekend's Stockton-Brigantine Boat Race, the Owls fought through some more very difficult conditions to grab the second-place finish. Bryn Mawr's 1V8+ finished in a time of 7:25.08 on the day, just three seconds behind the winners from Ithaca. That time was easily enough to earn the Owls the Silver, as Bryn Mawr beat out their next-closest opponents from Catholic by almost 30 seconds.

The Owls 2V8+ also had a very strong showing in the Grand Final, posting a time of 8:23.37 to take fifth place over their competitors from Catholic's 2V8+.

Junior Anne Meyer included the following reporting from the weekend's competition:

"Both days were a bit grey and windy, but Bryn Mawr is tough and we are used to rowing in less than ideal conditions. While rowing through the chop was a challenge for all boats, we know how to handle it. The biggest challenge the wind posed for us was docking. First-year Coco Vallon said, 'The race was great, the docking was…exciting.'"

"It was also fun being at a larger regatta where we were able to see and race against more teams. It is a hectic and impressive experience to walk through a park filled with tens of boat trailers, with rowers warming up and carrying boats down to the water in every direction. Being able to see all your competition right next to you – because we are racing in larger heats – is the best motivation. First-year Sarah Stephens remarked, 'I enjoyed watching the other boats fall back as we pulled ahead. It was so much more fun to race with more boats from our division.'"

"Coach Bower was happy with our performance this weekend, saying, 'This is the best we have ever performed in the Knecht Cup.'"

"Junior Lily Goltz summed up the weekend well, saying, 'Challenging conditions but we made the best of it and finished the weekend strong.''

The Owls will be right back in action next weekend, as they will head down to Philadelphia to race in the Kerr Cup Regatta.

Thanks to Anne Meyer for her excellent reporting contributions from the weekend's event.